What Richardson & Starling does

Richardson & Starling is a UK property preservation and repair contractor, operating continuously since 1935 and now functioning as a subsidiary of the Veitchi Group. The company is registered in Scotland as Richardson & Starling (Northern) Ltd. and is described as the largest building preservation company in Scotland. Its service portfolio covers damp proofing (rising, penetrating, and condensation), dry and wet rot treatment, woodworm eradication, basement waterproofing (Newton Type C systems compliant with BS 8102), structural and concrete repairs (including NATCEM 35 mortars and Hilti reinforcement), timber window restoration, cavity wall tie replacement, and thermal improvements. Specialist offerings include the proprietary SMART Process methodology for damp and mould remediation and Awaab's Law compliance services targeted at social housing providers. All work is delivered by CSRT- and CSSW-qualified surveyors backed by guarantees of up to 30 years.

The company operates a branch-led direct-to-customer model with 16 locations across Scotland and the North of England, supported by a sales-led GTM motion built around property surveys as the primary acquisition mechanism. Revenue is generated through survey-based professional services engagements (damp and timber surveys, remedial specifications), project-based preservation and repair contracts, and recurring managed-services agreements with commercial property owners, local authorities, and housing associations. Pricing is quote-based following property surveys, with pay-as-you-go flexibility for private landlords. Marketing leverages local SEO, educational blog and video content, customer reviews, case studies, and sustained Property Care Association award recognition to reinforce credibility. The customer base is structurally diversified across domestic homeowners, commercial property owners, public sector bodies, building professionals who refer clients, and private landlords, with no disclosed reliance on a single anchor account. Long-tenor institutional relationships (notably a 40-year partnership with Fife Council) and word-of-mouth referrals (over 50% of new domestic customers) provide revenue stability.

Name

Richardson & Starling

Legal name

Richardson & Starling (Northern) Ltd.

Website

https://richardsonandstarling.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Richardson & Starling is the largest building preservation contractor in Scotland, delivering damp proofing, timber treatment, structural repairs, and waterproofing services through 16 branches across Scotland and North England for homeowners, commercial clients, and public sector bodies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Glasgow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices18 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Property Surveys: Initial property surveys to diagnose damp, rot, timber decay, and structural issues. Surveyors assess problems and provide detailed reports with specifications for remedial work.
2. Damp Proofing Services: Chemical damp proof course injection, rising damp treatment, penetrating damp treatment, condensation control, and basement waterproofing services.
3. Property Preservation: Dry rot and wet rot treatment, woodworm eradication, timber repairs, structural timber resin repairs, and concrete repairs.
4. Property Repair Services: Cavity wall tie replacement, structural repairs, concrete repairs, timber window repair, and home report property repairs for property sales.
5. Commercial Property Services: Long-term contracts with commercial property owners, local authorities, and housing associations for ongoing property preservation and repair services.
6. Social Housing Services: Awaab's Law compliance services for social housing providers including large-scale damp and mould inspections, emergency repairs, and ongoing maintenance contracts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Richardson & Starling is a property preservation and repair contractor delivering specialist services including damp proofing, dry and wet rot treatment, woodworm eradication, condensation control, basement waterproofing, structural repairs, concrete repairs, timber window repair, and timber and damp surveys. Services are sold following property surveys through 16 branches across Scotland and North of England to domestic property owners, commercial clients, building professionals, and local authorities, with guarantees up to 30 years backed by insurance protection.

Product overview

Richardson & Starling is a property preservation and repair service company offering a comprehensive suite of specialist services for residential and commercial properties. The company operates as a single integrated service offering rather than a modular software platform. Core services include damp proofing and damp surveys, dry rot and wet rot treatment, woodworm eradication, condensation control with ventilation systems, basement waterproofing, structural repairs, concrete repairs, and timber window repair. The company has also developed the proprietary SMART Process methodology for Awaab's Law compliance. Services are delivered through a network of 18 branches across Scotland and the North of England by qualified local surveyors and technicians. The company provides both domestic property services and commercial property repairs, with guarantees up to 30 years backed by insurance protection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Damp Surveys Professional damp surveys conducted by qualified specialists to diagnose damp problems, identify moisture sources, and recommend appropriate treatment specifications for residential and commercial properties.
• Damp Proofing Property damp proofing services including damp surveys, chemical damp proof course injection, and damp diagnosis and treatment for rising damp, penetrating damp, and condensation control.
• Dry Rot Treatment Specialist dry rot identification, treatment, and eradication services using fungicidal treatments and timber replacement for residential and commercial properties.
• Wet Rot Treatment Wet rot identification, treatment, and repair services addressing fungal decay caused by excessive moisture in timber structures.
• Woodworm Treatment Woodworm infestation identification, treatment, and prevention services using professional-grade timber preservatives for residential and commercial properties.
• Condensation Control Condensation problem diagnosis and ventilation solutions including Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) units, extractor fans, and home ventilation systems.
• Basement Waterproofing Type C waterproofing systems and basement tanking solutions compliant with BS 8102 (2009) for below-ground structures, using Newton cavity drain membrane systems.
• Rising Damp Treatment Chemical damp proof course injection and rising damp treatment services to prevent moisture rising through masonry walls by capillary action.
• Penetrating Damp Treatment Diagnosis and treatment of penetrating damp caused by water ingress through walls, roof defects, or damaged building envelope.
• Structural Repairs Structural repair services including cavity wall tie replacement, concrete repairs, timber resin repairs, and structural timber repairs for buildings.
• Concrete Repairs Structural concrete repair services using specialist mortars including NATCEM 35 for spalling concrete, lintel repairs, and reinforcement restoration.
• Timber Window Repair Sash and timber window repair and restoration services to preserve original windows and extend their functional life.
• Timber Surveys Professional timber condition surveys conducted by CSRT-qualified surveyors to assess timber decay, rot, and pest infestations in residential and commercial properties.
• Mould Cleaning Services Black mould identification, removal, and prevention services including anti-condensation coatings and remediation treatments for residential and commercial properties.
• Thermal Improvements Property thermal improvement solutions including insulation upgrades and wall insulation to prevent condensation and improve energy efficiency.
• Commercial Property Repairs Comprehensive commercial building repair and preservation services for property owners, management teams, and contractors across Scotland and North of England.
• Awaab's Law Compliance Services Damp and mould compliance services to help social landlords and housing providers meet the legal requirements of Awaab's Law, including inspections, rapid response repairs, and compliance reporting.
• SMART Process Richardson & Starling's proprietary five-step compliance framework for damp and mould remediation comprising Survey, Mitigation, Apply, Reassure, and Track steps, deployed for social housing and private landlord clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30-year guarantees offered for major treatments including dry rot, wet rot, rising damp, and woodworm
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Fife CouncilflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner40-year partnership delivering timber preservation services across Fife region. Since the 1980s, the company has supported Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy, and North East Fife District Councils, continuing this trusted relationship with Fife Council since its formation in 1996. The partnership is described as an exemplar for long-term working relationships based on quality, reliability, and trust.
• Cowal DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOversaw remedial design for concrete repair project at St John Primary School, Barrhead. Provided design specification highlighting requirements for repair materials.
• Veitchi GroupflagshipOthersRichardson & Starling is a Veitchi Group company. The Veitchi Group includes Richardson & Starling and other related businesses in the construction and property sector.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Newton Waterproofing Systems: UK basement and structural waterproofing specialist whose Type C cavity drain systems (Newton System, BS 8102 compliant) are used by R&S. Combines product supply with design and on-site contracting — directly overlaps with R&S's basement waterproofing and structural waterproofing revenue stream.
• Timberwise: UK-based timber preservation and property care specialist offering dry rot, wet rot, woodworm, and damp treatment. Comparable business model (survey-led, multi-branch service contractor) and overlapping customer base in domestic and commercial property preservation.
• Peter Cox: UK's largest specialist property preservation contractor, owned by Rentokil Initial. Directly comparable: damp proofing, timber treatment (dry rot, wet rot, woodworm), basement waterproofing, structural repairs across residential and commercial segments — competing head-to-head with R&S in Scotland and Northern England.

Others

• Safeguard Europe: UK-based manufacturer of damp-proofing and waterproofing systems including the Stormdry range. Adjacent supplier whose products (rising damp injections, damp-proof membranes) are deployed by preservation contractors including R&S.
• Triton Systems: UK supplier of basement waterproofing, damp proofing, and timber treatment systems. Adjacent product supplier operating in the same technical specification universe that R&S surveyors prescribe and install.
• Wykamol Group: UK manufacturer and supplier of damp proofing, waterproofing, and timber treatment products. Adjacent supplier/ecosystem participant whose products are used by R&S in delivering damp-proof-course injections and structural waterproofing works.

Broad incumbents

• Rentokil Property Care (Rentokil Initial): Global pest control and property services group whose property-care division (Peter Cox) competes directly with R&S. Larger, broader portfolio with pest control as a parallel service line; offers overlapping damp/timber capabilities as part of a wider commercial offering.

Emerging players

• Property Repair Systems: UK specialist in property preservation, damp, rot, and condensation remediation, supplying both products and contractor services. Smaller-scale emerging competitor offering overlapping technical services and product supply to preservation contractors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/richardsonandstarling
• Xx.com/richardsonstarl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/richardson-and-starling

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Richardson & Starling